Fentanyl exposure at Allen County jail traced to inmate mail

Sheriff David Gladieux speaks out after Monday’s situation at the Allen County jail in which 34 employees were hospitalized after exposure to a toxic substance.

Posted: Nov 22, 2017 12:51 PM

Updated: Nov 22, 2017 1:07 PM

Posted By: Sara Schaefer

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WLFI) — Sheriff David Gladieux speaks out after Monday’s situation at the Allen County jail in which 34 employees were hospitalized after exposure to a toxic substance.

The Allen County sheriff is furious after fentanyl was confirmed as the drug that sent 34 of his employees to the hospital this week.Now he's calling on the federal government to change the way inmates get mail.

Several jail workers were hospitalized on Monday after investigating a report of inmates smoking.

Thirty-four people and a K-9 had to be checked out in Fort Wayne and 11 of those needed the anti-overdose drug Narcan.

Sheriff David Gladieux says some inmates got a hold of spice paper laced with fentanyl and were trying to light it using an outlet.

Gladieux believes they got the drugs through the mail and he blames the federal government for that.

"When I am taking 34 employees to the hospital because of their mail service and their ability to transport dangerous drugs I think it's time for the United States government to figure this out and quit catering to these people so much," said Gladieux.

All of the employees are expected to fully recover. Gladieux says none of the inmates were affected.

He believes that's because they were accustomed to the drugs.

Gladieux says he would like to see all inmate mail delivered electronically only – through tablets.

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